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Under InFOrMATIOn FACTS The SwedISh ePA PreSenTS FACTS AbOUT dIFFerenT ISSUeSinformation facts
beST PrACTICe eXAMPLeS nATUre COnSerVATIOn LIP – LOCAL InVeSTMenT PrOGrAMMeS
SePTeMber 2008
Photograph: Angelica Aronsson
The riparian meadows of Svartsjöviken
bay are being grazed again
Overgrown riparian meadows at Svartsjöviken Bay in the municipality of Ekerö have been restored. The land, which had poor load-bearing capacity, was restored using newly developed amphibious vehicles, light tracked vehicles and stump-grinding equipment. Today, the riparian meadows are being grazed again and a valuable habitat has been recreated. At the same time, long-term cooperation has been established between the municipality, farmers, local residents, landowners and associations.
The restoration of the wetland grazing at Svartsjöviken Bay in the Municipality of Ekerö has led to both greater biodiversity and the development of new tech-nology. The municipality has stimulated interest and involvement in the project through careful preparations and a commitment to information, training and dia-logue. With support from the local investment programme (LIP), around 35 ha of wetland grazing on the shores of Svartsjöviken Bay were restored in 2001, expanding the total acreage of grazing land to around 50 ha. The action formed part of a larger LIP programme principally aimed at improving water quality and benefiting birdlife and flora at Svartsjöviken Bay.
PositiVE EnVironmEntaL anD Economic imPacts
• Improved water quality. • Greater biodiversity.
• Richer birdlife, more breeding and resting species. • Development of new technology.
swedish EPa Se-106 48 Stockholm. Visiting address: Stockholm – Valhallavägen 195, Östersund – Forskarens väg 5 hus Ub, Kiruna – Kaserngatan 14.
Tel: +46 10 698 10 00, fax: +46 10 698 10 99, e-mail: registrator@swedishepa.se Internet: www.swedishepa.se orders Ordertel: +46 8 505 933 40,
orderfax: +46 8 505 933 99, e-mail: natur@cm.se Address: CM Gruppen, box 110 93, Se-161 11 bromma. Internet: www.swedishepa.se/publications
information facts
beST PrACTICe eXAMPLeS nATUre COnSerVATIOn LIP – LOCAL InVeSTMenT PrOGrAMMeS SePTeMber 2008 ISbn: 978-91-620-8556-8
imPLEmEntation
The Municipality of Ekerö planned from the outset for long-term development of the area, and operation of the area today forms part of its ordinary activities. The municipality coordinated the project and generated interest in the restora-tion through informarestora-tion, training and dialogue with local residents, landowners and associations. The landowners have played an active part in the project. Local residents have contributed knowledge of the area, undertaken clearing work and signposting and taken part in various activities. Active members of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and the Swedish Ornithological Society have worked on a voluntary basis, guiding and compiling inventories of species. Water sampling and species inventories are carried out continuously, and the results are fed back as a basis for discussions on the continued development of the area.
PotEntiaL anD fUtUrE BEnEfit
The natural landscape, natural resources and biodiversity have to be preserved and used in a sustainable manner. The restoration of grazed riparian meadows and other valuable habitats is part of this, and new technology and new meth-ods may need to be developed. Having access to and being able to spend time in nature is important for everyone. In the long term this can lead to greater envi-ronmental engagement.
whY beST PrACTICe
On the initiative of the contractor, stump grinding equipment and tracked vehicles with lower ground pressure than conventional equipment were developed to restore the inaccessible areas of land. Later the environment around the castle was restored, and the riparian meadows are now grazed by livestock. Today there is a newly created footpath, a barbecue site, a birdwatching tower and information boards about the area and the restoration. The restoration and the equipment developed in the project have attracted strong interest. Several municipalities have visited. The project has produced a brochure and has its own page on the ekerö website.
Grazed riparian meadows are a type of habitat that is fast disappearing around Lake Mälaren. The restoration benefited the diversity of species and birdlife around Svartsjöviken bay. The cooperation between the municipality, farmers, local residents, landowners and associations has increased under-standing and created common interest in the continued development of the landscape.
FOr FUrTher InFOrMATIOn Contact person:
Municipality of ekerö, Angelica Aronsson, +46 (0)8-560 39 222,
angelica.aronsson@ekero.se Contractor:
LVr Ab, Arne Linding, +46 (0)270-287540, vatmarkscentrum@telia.com
The project on the Internet: www.ekero.se (Svartsjöviken)
For further information on best Practice: www.swedishepa.se/bestpractice www.naturvardsverket.se/mir The project on the Internet: www.ekero.se (Svartsjöviken) FACTS
LIP ekerö 2000 Action no 4
environmental investment: SeK 799,000 Grant: SeK 295,000
